Building for the future

Examines a European Commission Institute survey investigating TQM and its application to the European construction industry and suggests that the short‐term nature of construction projects means that obtaining long‐term benefits of TQM can be difficult. Uses the experience of BP Chemicals to investigate what TQM offers in these circumstances, comparing the results of the ECI study with one from the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology on a similar theme. Concludes that if TQM simply speeds up the integration of different construction industry “cultures”, that is in itself beneficial.